Healthcare CIOs across the country are, more than ever before, intent on getting the most value from their hospital and health system EHRs.
Electronic Health Records
Doctor
The case for creating an ICD-10 command center
When the clock ticks in a new month and the entire healthcare industry is thereby mandated to begin using the new ICD-10 code set, there will most likely be glitches here and there.
But given the limited testing of claims acceptance and reimbursement that has taken place to date, it's impossible to predict with certainty whether those will be small and easily ironed out — or significant enough to severely disrupt cash flow and launch more downstream problems.
ICD-10 & Coding
via David Varisano The case for creating an ICD-10 command center
Even with encryption, EMR data at risk
A recent security report by Microsoft finds that, even when cloaked in encryption technology, "an alarming amount of sensitive information can be recovered" from electronic medical record databases.
Privacy & Security
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield cyberattack impacts 10.5M people
Hackers had unfettered access to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield's information systems for more than a year and a half before the health plan even noticed the cyberattack had occurred.
The health plan, which covers members living across 31 counties in New York State, only first discovered the cyberattack in the beginning of August, despite the hack initially taking place December 2013.
Privacy & Security
via David Varisano Excellus BlueCross BlueShield cyberattack impacts 10.5M people
A new Chief Nursing Officer at ONC
National Coordinator for Health IT Karen DeSalvo, MD, announced this week that Rebecca Freeman, RN, will join the agency to spearhead its nursing outreach and help shape its clinical informatics activities.
Clinical
IBM ramps up Watson with products and partnerships
IBM on Thursday appointed a general manager for its Watson Health unit, revealed two new products, established a global headquarters for its supercomputer, and announced several partnerships.
Analytics
via David Varisano IBM ramps up Watson with products and partnerships
Docs need to make consumer engagement a priority
Kyra Bobinet says a doctor can look at all the vital signs, test results, images and assorted assorted other EMR data and still have no idea how to treat a patient.
"That's not real life," she says. "That's not how to care for people."
In other words, that's not engagement. But that is where healthcare is failing to connect with consumers.
Patient Engagement
via David Varisano Docs need to make consumer engagement a priority
In Memoriam: Hunt Blair
In Memoriam: Hunt Blair
Huntington (Hunt) Blair was on a mission to inspire a "Bretton Woods moment" for creating governance around the collection and sharing of digital health information.
Interoperability
In Memoraim: Hunt Blair
The health IT community lost a friend, guru, and catalyst for collaboration driving a movement toward unified and distributed governance that guarantee a vigorous health information supply chain. Let's honor his audacious vision.
Healthcare IT News
blog/memoraim-hunt-blair
Partners forges huge pop health deal
In an unprecedented alliance between client and vendor, Boston-based Partners HealthCare, the client, and Salt Lake City-based Health Catalyst, the vendor, have agreed to share best practices, intellectual property, technology and training in an effort to take population health management to new heights.
Population Health
Apple injects health features into Watch
With many eyes focusing on Cupertino Wednesday Apple held another launch event and, as is becoming the norm, did so with a few surprises up its sleeve.
There's a shiny Apple TV and the tvOS to go along with it, Office 365 for the newly-minted iPad Pro, the always anticipated new iPhones of course and, what Apple would like to be most relevant to healthcare organizations: an upgraded Apple Watch.
Mobile
Dr. David Varisano 